NBC rode its high-profile live production of "The Sound of Music," starring Carrie Underwood, to a huge ratings win Thursday night, based on Nielsen overnights for the key 18-49 demo.

TVbytheNumbers.com reports that the production delivered a 4.6 average rating in viewers 18-49 from 8-11 p.m., along with a whopping 18.47 million total viewers, as NBC easily outpaced its broadcast rivals in prime time.

One show did match "Sound of Music’s" number, as CBS’s "The Big Bang Theory" also recorded a 4.6 in the 18-49 demo. But that number was a season low, and seven-tenths of a ratings point off the pace of the show’s previous original installment.

CBS’s results overall were mixed: "The Millers" was down three-tenths from its previous original with a 2.5 average in 18-49, and "The Crazy Ones" slipped one-tenth to a 2.1, but "Two and a Half Men" ticked up two-tenths to a 2.1 and "Elementary" held steady with a 1.8.

Third-place ABC saw its veteran drama series "Grey’s Anatomy" sink to an all-time low in adults 18-49, falling two-tenths from its previous original to a 2.4 average. But the network’s other programs were up: "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" ticked up one-tenth to a 1.0, while "Scandal" rose two-tenths to a 3.1.

Fox found itself a distant fourth among the broadcast nets, even as "The X Factor" rose three-tenths from a week ago to a 1.3 average in viewers 18-49 and "Glee" climbed two-tenths from its series low last week to a 1.1.

For prime time overall, NBC was comfortably ahead in the 18-49 demo with a 4.6 average rating, topping CBS (2.5 average), ABC (2.2), Fox (1.2) and Univision (1.0). NBC also had a big win in total viewers with 18.47 million, leading CBS (9.50 million), ABC (6.56 million), Fox (3.99 million) and Univision (2.89 million).

"The Sound of Music Live" may have been a big ratings success for NBC, but TVWeek Open Mic blogger Chuck Ross says it came up short artistically. Click here to read why.